Every week is Diversity Week

In the context of Diversity Week we interviewed our Chief Diversity Officer (CDO), Prof. Jane Murray Cramm, on what inclusion, diversity, equity and access mean to her, and on how her first six months as CDO have been. We meet Jane after she participated in a panel discussion at EUR about engaged research, challenges in research, and inclusive research.

Jane, nice to speak to you. What do inclusion, diversity, equity and access mean to you, and how do you feel about working at IDEA Center?

Jane Murray Cramm: “For me working towards a more inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible organisation is not only a moral imperative, it creates strategic advantage as well, driving innovation, creativity, and resilience. I believe our diverse backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge make our university stronger. Everyone at IDEA Center has such strong commitment and passion for IDEA topics, and beyond. Together, we want to shape a future where diversity is celebrated, enriching the experiences of all within our university.”

You have been Chief Diversity Officer at EUR for six months now, what have been your experiences so far?

Jane Murray Cramm: “I’m really positive about all the ambassadors we have in our organisation who are working on inclusion, diversity, equity and access. That’s important because I believe it is a responsibility for everyone to create a welcoming and accessible university for all. It is a collective and collaborative endeavour, involving our IDEA Center, the Executive Board, deans, faculties, directors, departments, Faculty Diversity Officers, teachers, students, and numerous colleagues across our whole organisation. 

And these are not easy times, with everything that’s going on in the world. The continuing war in Ukraine and the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza are examples of events that have a big impact on the world, on the Netherlands, and on our community as well. I wish for all of us to stay open to each other’s points of view, to stay connected, to ask questions, to listen. We as IDEA Center want to emphasize that we see, and acknowledge the pain and grief of those in our community who are affected by these events. We hope you feel free to reach out to us. We strive to make our campus and our university a place where you can share your emotions, your hopes, your grief, your concerns. 

The cutbacks in research and education is something many of us are struggling with, and concerned about. These are difficult times and I hope we find a way to keep doing what we are doing, making sure we keep working on building and maintaining a strong and inclusive university and community. My personal mission is to be a catalyst for positive change within our university, working tirelessly to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their background, feel at home and feel valued to contribute their unique strengths.”

Why is something like Diversity Week important? 

Jane Murray Cramm: “I see that more and more organisations are talking about diversity and inclusion. But talking is not enough. We need real change. I do believe talking about IDEA topics is a good starting point. But I hope organisations don’t just talk about IDEA topics during one special week of the year. That would be ‘diversity washing’, like pink, or green washing. I hope weeks like Diversity Week are a, or will become a, calibration point for organisations to check how their IDEA policies are working, and what needs to be done to create real change. For us at IDEA Center inclusion, diversity, equity and access take center stage every day, and this week we are putting extra spotlight on it. But for us, it’s Diversity Week every week!”